YouTube Channel Name vs. Username

Do you know the difference between your YouTube username and channel name? This is something that is often confused, but that you HAVE to know.

YouTube Channel Names

Your channel name is what your channel is known by. It’s what shows up on YouTube when watching one of your videos. People click on it to go to your channel. It is often also your username, but sometimes it’s not.

YouTube Usernames

Your YouTube username is what shows up in the URL when you’re on your channel page (usually. There is currently a bug that sometimes makes it not show up. See more here). When you first started your channel, it was a random string of characters. If you never set a custom URL, it will still be a random string of characters.

Your YouTube username is what you have to search by on Social Blade to get your stats. Because it is part of a URL, there are NO spaces in it.

How to Get a Custom YouTube Username

You can only change your YouTube username once. After that, it is permanent. If you have not already done so, you need to log into your YouTube account.

On any page on YouTube, click on your avatar in the top right corner. Click on settings (the little gear), then under your email address, the button marked advanced. In the advanced menu, the top part will show your channel URL. If you have not changed it yet, you have the option to create a custom URL. Choose wisely! It IS permanent.

The Shortcut Way

For the short way though, open a new tab and make sure you’re logged into your YouTube account, then come back here. We’ll wait………….

Now click on this link. If you already have a custom username set, you’ll get a page telling you that. If not, it will take you straight to where you need to go to change it.

How to Rename Your YouTube Channel

You get another chance with your channel name though. When you link it to a Google+ page, you get the opportunity to rename it. Again, you want to choose wisely. Make it memorable, short, and above all, easy to spell. Also make sure it’s not something you’ll tire of in a year or so. You might think that LuvCatz4ever is cute now, but is that still going to represent your channel in a couple years? Maybe it will. Cats are kind of a big deal on YouTube 🙂